By Kyle Fortinsky|August 9, 2012|Comments Off on The Sea and Cake to release new album 'Runner' on 9/18/12, share first single "Harps"

Over the past two decades, Chicago indie rockers The Sea and Cake have quietly supplanted themselves as one of the more reliably satisfying bands in modern music. The quartet exists like a perennial public figure you don't believe was ever younger than 50; the type you assume was just born with that seasoned, attractive look and well-established resume. Their sound is a mix of many styles while also including many constants: delicate and jazzy guitar work, sonic drum beats, a penchant for lengthy instrumental sequences, and the ever-present calmness of lead singer Sam Prekop's voice.

On September 18th, Prekop and fellow members Archer Prewitt, Eric Claridge, and John McEntire will add to their discography with the release of Runner on Thrill Jockey Records, their tenth studio effort. The first single "Harps" was shared recently, and you can check it out above. Runner began as a simultaneous project during the recording of the band's 2011 album The Moonlight Butterfly , before maturing into its own entity. Prekop explains in a Thrill Jockey press release:

Normally I would ignore past efforts when writing something new, but this felt different, The Moonlight Butterfly was ripe for expansion. Keeping the butterfly in mind focused a direction and provided a good jumping off point....I was interested in writing songs that started not with guitar but with synthesizer/sequencer ideas. The modular synth parts didn’t always make it through to the final recordings, but the influence is still there. On “Harps” for instance, that melody and structure could not have happened if I hadn’t played off the sequencer right at the beginning. Having the pieces start in my home studio, I became quite cavalier with them, painting with a new fat sloppy brush. The songs were feeling pleasantly out of control and I was hearing music unlike other material I had come up with before.

The group has also announced a nationwide fall tour that includes a November 8th stop at Slim's. Grab your tickets here and check out the full schedule below.

Founded in 2006, The Bay Bridged is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization utilizing new media and presenting live events to support the San Francisco Bay Area’s indie rock, folk, and pop music communities. Our mission is to maintain a dedicated public education campaign to encourage public appreciation of San Francisco Bay Area independent music and to provide unique opportunities for local musicians to perform, receive exposure, collaborate,
and create original works.